Shoe press



D. Russo Oct. 14, 1947.

SHOE PRESS Filed June 1, 1944 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 14,- 1947. D USSO 2,428,814

SHOE PRESS Filed June 1, 1944 J 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Marzar pom/m7? B7 w y Oct. 14, 1947.

D. RUSSO SHOE PRESS Filed June 1, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Iil r if waw 3/ W. m J a 1 .m

Patented Oct. 14,

Dominik ErissmCBosimn, Mass; assigno'r" Corporation; Boston, Mass"; aa coriiorationsofi;e

Massachusetts Application June 1; 1944; SeriaiNb; ss;24s P 11 Claims.

The present invention relates-to shoe-presses andrnore particularly to 'thetype of shoe press which is-used to cement soles-to shoes-whether in manufacture or in repairing shoes; The in-' vention is particularly-useful forcementingall types of. soles to shoes, forinstance-half" s0le's and whole "solesfor mens and women-s shoes whether in manufacture-or inrepai-r;

One of the chief difiicultieswithshoe presses of the prior art is that they can not-be used generally for all types of soleswith-the same effective results-.- It was quite common in cementing half-soles to shoes that sufiicient-pressure couid'not be obtainedin the instep portionmf the sole to m-ake-a-good bond between thesole and the shoe; Ewen in-the cementing of whole soles, the rear part of the sole 'quit'e frequently cameloose In addition-to this;- the' shoe 'had to remain in the press for some time; not-because the cement was-not suiiiciently quick in drying; but rather because uniform and-"sufiiciently high pressure could not be obtained.-

In the presentinven-tionboth half and -whole soles are cemented in comparatively rapidtime, in "many cases in-onlyaboutfive minute's;

The pres'ent invention also provides many-other improvements over the prior art, particularly-an the construction of the hydraulic press forming a part of the invention'and'in the relationship of the press and the elementsattached to-itf0r ;f0rcing'the shoe against the pneumatic cushion-i The hydraulic press is so constructed -that -it may be readily removed and replaced by a new one if desired and theelementsfor supporting the shoe operate in such a fashion that practically no adjustment is necessary when-the shoeis put into-the press. Thepneumati'c cushion-0f the present invention is also particularly con structed in reiation to other elements to provide many of the advantages discussed above.

Without further describing the merits and'-ad-' vantages of the present invention, the'invention wil-l"now-bedescribed in connection vwith'san embodiment of the same set forth inthe specificationbelow' and illustrated in the drawings-pin which;

Figure 1 shows aside elevation of the' 'shoe press of-the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a front elevation-cf the shoe press with the pans removed.

Figure 3 shows an en-largedview -of*'a part of the upright portionof the shoe press with fr'agmental-y sections broken away-.

Figure l'shows a section taken on: the-linen'F- l of Figure 3;

Figure :5 shows" amenlarged modified sectional detail of .i iguri'e-l ip Figure'r6 shows a fragmentary-top evie'w looking: downan the top' !of' Figure 3 *with'tparts. in ifrage m'entary' section;

Figure 7 shows a side view ofJatheJtopi portion of Figlure alas viewedfromtth-e left.

Figure 8 ishows'3a' modified section.:corresponde in'gto a section-taken (anthe 1i1'ie" A -'A, Of}Fi guTH 3.

Figure 9 shows a sectional yiewvtahen our-the line-1 9 9 of tFignre' Figure 10 showsxin'1elevationrtheodetail shown im -Figure =5? Figure -11 shows: a planflview a'ofxtherplan .at: the bottom of thEMSIlElB'iPITGSS-I Figure =12 i'shows a? side: view of: l'thet-element ShGWIitEin Figure: 1 partially; in fragmentarysec tiong'riand Figure-s13 shows :a :SQGt'iOH ntak-en' on 215118; line I 314-!3' 20? Figure 12's:

In the drawings:rthezirshoexpress-shas1a bases'i andbri'd'ge elements 2' and DnaWhlGhi'thQa presses 4 and Spremountedi: a. In thev constructionihercin shownnther l bridges :and qpresses: aremdupl-icated orzinatw' nib'attery; but 'if desired the construction may -b e: in": "single units or J in morezthan two:

The bridge is constituted 20f two sideeupwardly extending supports Band and a :centralsum po'rtvfB ,w': alii formed integral-ly with the side-rand central flanges ,9,- a sand l t respectively; all Lexi-J tending upwardly from thebase: i supporting-and carrying-the cross eleme'nts l3 and *i l in -which thehydraulic press cylinders i5 landlfiL? are mounte'd -io'rvertical-ioperation:V, Asiindicatedszin Figure '3,' the*. cylinder 6 *issgrooved circumferenw many-near its'tloWen end at 11 and a set screw IB tIire'aded through a-sleeve'or collar lat formed as part of the cross ele'ment l i, holds the cylinder firmly "inplace;

Thet whole hydraulic press: mayxbeaeasily removedaby simply looseningi the set: screw: VI 83' and taking the" -cylinder andthe hydraulicilpress out at; the topsof the bridge after the lastsupporting membersmat the lowerwpart of' thewpressbelow the' brid ge have been removed.

This lower mechanism" comprises a last support 23ww'hich1is carried by :a:bracket:2 4 havin two inwardly eXtend-ing flanges 25 and- 26 which fit into grooves in the. sides of the lastsuppor'tc, The bracket fl is sitself forked at its upper: end; in flanges 2T and=28- to receive the short shaft-r129- forming aisleeve :for ;an"upright.pin:22t which has a flatcheaded flange-3n; Thexsleevejflryvithgthe pin 12 Jandithe': bracket 24' are .pi-nnedi. together seal at the base of the piston 23. This is accomplished by forming a little shoulder within the 7 cap 2|, as indicated at 32, and providing suitable cap members or washers or Neoprene or synthetic rubber and 2| of metal which are drawn tight against the end edges of the tube When the cap 2| is threaded on the piston. The pin 22, it will be seen, is free to turn about a vertical axis while the bracket 24 may turn about the horizontal axis of the pin 3|. The last support 23 is therefore free to adjust itself along the bracket 24 as the shoe is pressed against the pan since the shoe and last support stay together. The last support 23 is made to slide freely in the bracket 24 and although the contour of the upper surface 32 of the support fits with that of the lower surface of the bracket, the flanges 25 and 26 fit sufficiently close in the grooves in which they slide so that when the support istipped up, the supporting bracket is turned on the pin 3|. The last support 23 is built with a fiat rear portion 34 and an arched, downwardly extending front end 35 at the end of which there is a clamping bar 31 supported by a threaded pin 38. The front tip of the last and shoe support is lined with a rubber pad or tip covered by a fabric or leather cover 33. This is held in place between the bar 3'! and a flange 39 extending from the 'front end 35 and provides a frictional hold and guard against the toe of the shoe when in the-press. This arrangement of the last support provides a convenient self-adjustment so that the shoe may come down upon the base in the most favorable position without any adjustment or manipulation on the part of the operator.

The hydraulic press 4 comprises the outer cylinder IBand the inner piston 20 already mentioned together with other elements and members which are shown in detail in Figures 3 to 10 inclusive. The stationary elements in the arrangement herein described is the outer cylinder |6. The piston 26 has positioned within it a second cylinder 4| which is provided with a central fluid or liquid passage 42 through which the hydraulic liquid flows into the tube or piston 20. The cylinder 4! is provided at its end with suitable seal? ing rings or members shown in modified detail in Figure 5 and Figure 10, the object of the seal being to prevent the hydraulic medium or liquid from escaping between tubes 4| and 20. The cylinder 4| is threaded at the top t receive a threaded collar 43 which provides a communicating passage to the small chamber 44 just above the top of the cylinder 4|. The collar 43 is also externally threaded into the inside of the similar cylinder IS with a tight sealing stationary joint. The tube or piston 23 surrounds the cylinder 4| for its whole length up to a point where 4| enters the collar 43 when the tube 23 is in its uppermost position, as shown in Figure 4. The tube 25 is itself recessed and threaded on its inner side at its top at 45 to receive the cap member 45. .The cap 46 is made to provide a sliding fit withi the end of the cylinder 4| and has a downwardly projecting threaded collar portion which screws into the internally threaded end at the top of the 4 cylinder 20. The diameter of the member 46 which is large enough to fill the space within the walls of the cylinder [6 also forms an upper thrust surface for the long spring 41, the purpose of which is to return the piston 20 to its normal inoperative position when the hydraulic pressure has been released.

The lower end of the spring 41 is supported in place by means of a collar 49 which has a sliding fit for the cylinder 20 and is threaded externally into the inner wall of the cylinder l6. As the 1 cylinder 20 is forced downward by the-hydraulic liquid entering the chamber 50 within the tube 20, the spring 41 becomes compressed. When, however, the pressure is released and the oil flows out of the chamber 50 through the passage 42 and into the reservoir 5|, as will be later described, the spring 4! will expand and raise the piston into its normal and inoperative position. The reservoir 5| at the top of the press communicates with the pump chamber 52 through the passage 53, the check valve 54, the inlet port 55 and thecommunicating passage 55 which opens into the top of the chamber 52. When the pump handle 51 is in its upright position, the piston 53 is down, as indicated in Figure 9.

As the pump handle 51 is rotated clockwise to the dotted line position 51, the piston 58 is forced up to drive the hydraulic liquid from the chamber 52 into the passage 60 against the valve 6| which is provided with a fluted stem 6| guiding the valve in the passage 60 while permitting the liquid to flow past the valve without resistance. The liquid then passes through the port 62 into the chamber 44 from whence it flows down through the passage 42 into the chamber 50. The pump handle 5l carries a cam 63 and the latter is pivoted in a forked bearing 64 by means of the pin 65 which passes through both the forked bearing and the cam and provides an eccentric motion for the cam such that the roller 66 is given an upward component without any side thrusts. Bringing the handle 51 downward in its clockwise rotation therefore pumps the oil through the passage 42 and forces the piston 20 downward thus enlarging the liquid chamber 50. When the pump handle is released or returned to its upright position, the spring 61 returns the piston 58 to its normal position, that is, it forces it downward, as viewed in Figure 4. This permits the chamber 52 to be filled again so that when the handle 5! is again rotated clockwise downward more liquid will be forced into the chamber 50 and the piston 20 will continue to travel downward, as viewed in Figure 4.

While in the operation described, the handle 51 is rotated downward to pump the liquid into the chamber 5|], the cam may be so arranged that the.

pump handle could be worked in the other direction, that is raised in pumping the liquid into the chamber 50. The liquid sealing member at'the lower end of the cylinder 4| comprises a cupshaped synthetic rubber or rubber washer 10 compressed and held in a recess at the bottom of the shaft 4| by meansof a cap H which is held in place by the two nuts 12 and 13 threading over a reduced shoulder at the end of the cylinder 4|.

A more preferred form of construction is'illustrated in Figures 5 and 10. Here the cylinder 4| is provided with an external sleeve 18 made to have a smooth sliding fit. The cylinder 4| is also threaded internally at its end to receive the threaded cylindrical end member 14 which is provided with a long neck 15 at its end, furnishing a communicating passage 16 through which the hyinder 4| and forms, with the endof the cylinder M anda recess at the side of the member UL-a cup-shaped recess for the purpose of receiving acorrespondingly outwardly curved shaped cup washerll, preferably of leather, which fits around the long neck of the member 15. A rubber or synthetic rubber washer 79, such as Neoprene, has one end firmly resting within the cup 11 with the lower 'end'of the washer flaring outwardly in a conical fashion against the wall of the tube 20. This washer is capped with a metal disc washer 80 forced upward by the spring 8| against which the nuts 82 and B3 are tightened. The rubber or synthetic rubber washer 19 is bevelled outward so thatit' forms a pressure contact against the inner wall of the tube 20 and the nuts and spring furni'shresilientpressure against the wall of the tube topermit the piston to operate easily while the seal'ofliquid is maintained. The ring element at the end of the tube 58 is the same as that at the end of the tube 4| but a construction similar to that shown in Figures 5 and may be used.

After the shoe has been cemented and when it is desired to release the piston, this is accomplished by operating the small hand lever 90 (see Figure 3). The small hand lever 98 controls the action of the pin 9| which has a flat flange 92 at its inner end positioned opposite the fluted stem 93 of the valve 94. When the pin 9| is moved longitudinally in the bushing 95 by rotating the handle 90 from the full line to the dotted line position 90 then the valve 94 is moved to the right and the reservoir 5! is connected through the communicating passage 96 and then through the passage 91 along the fluted stem 93 through the valve 94 into the chamber 98 through the inlet 99- (see Figure 6) to the small chamber 44 at the top of the cylinder 4| (see Figures 6 and 4). It will be noted then that the pressure in the chamber 50 will be relieved and the hydraulic liquid, which may be oil, water or other suitable medium, will flow back into the chamber 5|. The liquid in the chamber 50 will also be relieved and flow back to the reservoir if the. valve is released or releases itself because of excess pressure in the chamber 50. The valve |0| (Figure 4) may be set at a desired pressure to release if too much pressure is exerted by the press. This pressure may be set at the desired value simply by removing the top cover plate I02 on the reservoir and adjusting the spring tension by means of the threaded plug I03 on the end of the valve stem.

The release valve operated by means of the lever 90 operates to release the pressure within the chamber 50 by rotating the handle downward to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. By proper construction of the eccentric cam portion I III, the handle may be operated in the reverse direction thus making use of the weight of the handle to maintain the release valve either in its closed or open position.

A modification of the construction shown in Figure 3 is illustrated in Figure 8. In this case the chamber 98 and the valve 95 are the same as that shown in Figure 3 and so also the fluted stem 93 which guides the valve 94 in the passage I. In the wall H2, however, there is provided a recess in which a diaphragm H3 may be positioned. This diaphragm may be made of flexible, yielding material as, for instance, rubber, synthetic rubber, fabric, Bakelite or other plastic materials clamped about its edges in the wall. The diaphragm is provided with a button H4 at 6: the center having metal surfaces, the inner zone of which operates against the fluted stem 93 of the valve 94'. Resting against the button surface on the outside of the diaphragm H3 is asliding pin H5 which projects through thebase of the forked bracket H6 which supports the operating lever 9|! notshown in Figure 8. This construction may be preferable to that shown in Figure 3 since the operating pin or piston H5 doesnot have any oil pressure or liquid working. against it and therefore need not be sealed by washers as is the'case in the construction shown in Figure 3 where the bushing 95 in the block |||t is employed for making a seal with'a pair of wash ers forced-against the operating pin or shaft9l'.

The mechanism just: described for providing pressure operates in connection with'a so-called an-I20 "which is :adjusta'blypositioned on the basel between the bridge supports... This'pan- I26 is shown more in detail in Figures 11, 12 and :13 and comprises aicast .loa'sev |2|. dished with "upwardly" ext'endingi sides I221" I22 whichv merge into ,asupportingtplate. or web I23 whichlias; a downwardly: projecting skirt lzswextending pal-1 of thew'ay aroundthe pan. The-plate or web,

whichiisf normally horizontal, is. recessed tore-- ceive a clamping ring |251positioned at its face which'i'is helditO 'the web by agroup of screws E25? This clamping plate :holcls' down the cover |2:'l oftheiipneumaticcushion-l2-8k The form of thezpan'fandthe shape of the cushion is pare ticularly important; inproducing the proper and rapid cementing :of the soles-to shoes It willvbe 'notedthat the. pan is quite deeply dished .with :a rear supporting flange I28 which issomewhat lower-in1 the center section than the side. wall =:of;the. pan. The pneumatic cushion:|28-

projectsiconsiderably above the rear wall ;|2'9 in' the section I30, 'this section continuing-upward injapproximately the same direction as the wall I29 and alsov quite'abruptly ending at a 1evel-of the .top surface |3| of the cushion. The cushion is considerably higher than the pan itself, approximately twice as high, and furnishes a large yielding area so that the shoe and sole may be, uniformly held under pressure over the wholev cementing surface merely by forcing thesole of the'shoe against the cushion with thehy-- draulic press.

The cushion itself comprises an internal blad der. I33 which is shaped to fit within the dished pan-and extends upward beyond it to about the same height. This bladder is not intended to expandgreatly and therefore .is made"of.=heavy rubber-and shaped with a .short' rear corner 3%" but otherwis'e elongated to flll out the wholepan;

AirI-isIsuppIie'd to the cushi'on at the front end through arvalvez|35x A guage I36 is also pro-.

vided so that-'Ithe pressure onthe cushionr m'ay,

be known The :pressure in'the cushionmay-beproperly adjusted by the amount ofair pumped into the-cushion Prior to the pressing iofxthe.

shoe against" the cushion, the pressure may be 20 to-30pounds' and subsequent thereto," when. the shoe is in place for cementing; the pressure sole so that even pressure may be maintained between the shoe and the sole as it is cemented. The building up of the rear part of the cushion above the top of the rear wall permits a considerable downward movement of the shoe and this allows a self adjustment of the shoe and the sole to provide uniform and even pressure over the cementing area. The flanged edge I38 is provided at its' periphery with a bead I which rests in a groove extending around the face of the plate I23.

In the operation of the device, the operator inserts the last in the shoe and places it against the last support 23. The sole surface may be previously prepared with proper cement. The hydraulic piston is then lowered, forcing the sole of the shoe against and into the cushion until the desired pressure is indicated on the guage 36. The last will adjust itself in position to provide a uniform pressure over the entire sole, preserving particularly the pressure on the instep and toward the heel. The shoe is left in the press for the desired length of time. With the present machine soles have been cemented in approximately five minutes because of the pressure which can be applied between the sole and the shoe. This will permit the us of a quick drying cement and also will permit a greatly increased production and use for the machine.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe press of the type described comprising a base member having a span support, a pan having a pneumatic cushion positioned in said base, a hydraulic press having a cylinder fixed in said span support, a piston operating in the cylinder, a coupling member having one portion attached to the piston end and having a second portion coupled to the first portion in a vertical swivel joint, a block horizontally pivoted to said second portion, said block having a guideway and a last support slidabletherein, said piston being positioned over said pan and acting in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the pan.

2. In combination in a shoe press, a base member having a span support, a pan having a pneumatic cushion positioned in said base and a hydraulic press having a cylinder fixed in said spanpositioned normal to the surface of the pan, said press having a hollow, movable cylinder operating within said fixed cylinder, a second fixed cylinder positioned within the moving cylinder axially aligned therewith and serving as a bearing surface for the movable cylinder and having a hydraulic seal against the inner wall of said moving cylinder, a communicating passage within said second cylinder opening to the chamber formed by the hollow wall of the moving cylinder, a long compression spring acting between the first fixed cylinder and the moving cylinder to return the moving cylinder when hydraulic pressure has been released, a last support for pressing the shoe sole against the pneumatic cushion of the pan, and a coupling member attaching said last support to the end of the moving cylinder, said coupling member permitting rotational motion about both vertical and horizontal axes, and a lateral adjustment of the last supportwhereby the last support may settle the shoe in the cushion with only axial motion of the movable cylinder.

3. In a shoe press of the type described, a base member having'a span support, a hydraulic press having a fixed cylinder mounted in said spama hollow, movable cylinder operating axially within said fixed cylinder, a shoe last support comprising a bridging member having ends adapted to bear on the last and having elongated grooves in the sides of the bridging member in the front portion thereof, a bracket support fitting over the topand sides of said bridging member and having inwardly extending flanges fitting in said grooves, said bracket having a recessed top, mean firmly attached to the end of the moving cylinder providing a swivel joint having its axis concentric with that of the movable cylinder, a pin extending at right angles to the axis through said joint, said pin being journalled in the recessed top-of said bracket into which the swivel extends.

i. In a shoe press of the type described, a base member having a span support, a hydraulic press having a cylinder and hollow piston therein, means mounting said cylinder perpendicularly in said press, a pan remova'bly mounted adjustable in said base with the surface thereof normal to action of said piston, a shoe last support, means coupling said last support to said movable piston swivelling said last support in a perpendicular axis including 'a cap member sealing the end of said hollow piston and having a perforation through which said swivelling means. extends, said perforation having a shoulder, and a swivelling means having a corresponding flange resting thereon.

5. In a shoe press of the type described, a hydraulic press having a fixed cylinder, a movable cylinder within the fixed cylinder having a hollow center chamber, means for capping the open end of the hollow cylinder including a cap element having 'an internal recessed shoulder, a sealing washer supported on the shoulder adapted to 'be held by the cap against the open end of r the cylinder, and a swivelling pin having a head, said head resting in the recess within said cap and said pin extending through an opening in the base of the cap.

.6. In a shoe press of the type described, a basemember having a pan supporting a pneumatic cushion, said "cushion comprising a bladder resting against the base of the !pan and extending substantially above the level of the pan, a cover covering said bladder having a peripheral flange and means for clamping said flange to the top face of the pan around the front and the sides, said cover having an apron at the back thereof folding over the end of the bladder and extending into the pan between the bladder and the base of the pan..

'7, In a shoe press of the type described, a pan having a pneumatic cushion contained therein, said pan being dished and having a fiat clamping surface around the front and the side thereof, a bladder positioned in said pan filling out the dished area and extending substantially above the clamping surface of the pan, said bladder being substantially flat on top, a cover fitting over the top of the bladder and having an extending peripheral flange lying over the clamping flange on the sides andfront of the pan with an apron extending over the back of the bladder and insertedbetween the wall of the pan and 9 the bladder at the back thereof, the back of said cushion being substantially as high as the rest of the cushion and a clamping ring extending around the side and front of the pan for clamping the cover to the flange of the pan.

8. In a shoe press of the type described, a base member having a pan fitting therein containing a pneumatic cushion, said pneumatic cushion comprising a bladder filling the said pan, said pan having a flat outwardly extending flange about the side and front thereof with the edge of the pan recessed at the back thereof, a cover fitting over said bladder with a flange extending over the flange of said pan and a portion extending over the back of the bladder into the pan between the rear wall and the bladder, a clamping ring clamping the flange of said cover to the flange of the pan, the 'back of said pan being recessed and said pneumatic cushion extending at the back of said pan substantially above the recessed rear wall thereof.

9. A shoe press of the type described, comprising a base, a pneumatic cushion in said base, a support secured to said base and carrying a fluid pressure-operated piston vertically movable in alignment with said base, means to adjust said fluid pressure and to release said pressure, a last support associated with said piston having means for movable adjustment to provide a self-seating of the shoe and last on the pneumatic cushion, said means comprising a coupling member providing longitudinal adjustment of said last support, a vertical swivelling member, said coupling member being horizontally journalled in said vertical swivelling member, and means supporting said vertical swivelling member in alignment with said piston.

10. A shoe press of the type described, having a pneumatic cushion supplied with a predetermined pressure to contact with a shoe sole on a last, a pressure indicator for said cushion, fluid pressure-operating means movable in vertical alignment with the last and having a flexible bearing on said last, manual operating means to build up said fluid pressure thru the last against the cushion, in combination with adjustable means to release the fluid pressure on the last when a predetermined amount of pressure has been built up in the pneumatic cushion.

11. A shoe press of the type described comprising a base member having a span support, a pan having a pneumatic cushion positioned in said base, a hydraulic press mounted and supported in said span support with a movable piston member operative in a direction normal to the surface of the pan, a hydraulic pump element formed as a part of said hydraulic press and rigidly connected thereto, a handle for operating said pump and thereby moving said piston in the direction of said pan, said handle being positioned adjacent said movable piston, a last support and means mounting the last support on the end of the piston, said means permitting lateral and pivotal adjustment of the last support in both horizontal and vertical axes.

DOMINIK RUSSO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

457,253 Germany Feb. 23, 1928 

